Mr. HAROLD PEARSONasked the hon. Member for the Barnstaple Division, as representing the Charity Commissioners, whether he is aware that the trustees of the Wilby Charities have been surcharged to the extent of 8s. 9d. for telegrams sent during the year 1907; if so, whether it was made by the auditors after consulting the Charity Commissioners; and on what grounds the surcharge can be upheld in view of the fact that in 1903 the auditors allowed a charge of a guinea expended in a similar manner?
§ Mr. E. J. SOARESIt was not the trustees of the Wilby Charities, but members of the parish council of Wilby, who were surcharged by the Local Government Board 8s. 9d. for telegrams sent by Mr. E. W. Goldspink, their clerk, in 1907. The surcharge was made by the district audi-242W tor of the Local Government Board. It was confirmed by the Local Government Board after they had asked the Commissioners whether there was any reasonable ground for the telegrams being sent and had received a reply in the negative. The last paragraph of the question is not understood, as similar surcharges of £1 17s. 10d. and £1 6s. were made for similar telegrams sent in 1903, 1904, and 1905.